About Us

I love food. But I also love feeling well with plenty of energy. It has taken me a lifetime to realise that the food that serves me best is raw, whole and plant based.

I was brought up on a British traditional diet of ‘meat and two veg’ which was ok as a child as my food was prepared for me but as soon as I reached adulthood and had to start cooking for myself, I felt I no longer wanted to touch raw carcasses or eat the flesh of a dead animal.

So started my journey into vegetarianism. Initially I relied way too heavily on cheese and other dairy foods but over the last four decades I have pared back and back and now eat simply, relying for the most part on fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. "Am I 100% raw vegan? No, I am not." This is the question I am asked most frequently but my diet is a very high percentage raw and I would return to 100% raw anytime if my health were in jeopardy.

I must admit that a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds sounds boring to most people until I tell them that I eat everything from burgers to ice cream from sushi to cakes. It’s not all about salads but I do include many portions of fruits and vegetables each day to my diet.

It was after a long standing health issue that was alleviated by a juice cleanse that I was first inspired to set up The Raw Retreat.

I have been amazed at how detoxification and a plant based raw diet has transformed my health and my energy levels. I have also been privileged to have witnessed over the years and through hundreds and hundreds of guests the transformation in their health and the management of their weight.

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I have seen those in pain become pain free, migraine frequency diminish or disappear, the dramatic reduction of fasting blood glucose levels in diabetics, reduction in blood pressure in guests with cardiovascular issues and an improvement in immune systems for those with poor immune system related illnesses.

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Guests with weight to lose do remarkably well. Although we only quote up to 1lb per day in weight loss, it has been known for some guests to lose as much as a stone in a week*.

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We put great deal of emphasis on reducing guests’ stress levels. Stress is the scourge of modern day living which in turn plays havoc with one’s physiological health. Walking outdoors in nature, yoga, meditation and healthy food all have a positive part to play.

*results may vary from person to person.

Simon Bird

Hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner and meditation teacher

Married to Beverley for over 30 years, Simon manages the retreat alongside her. He is a qualified Hypnotherapist registered with The American Board of Hypnotherapy. He is also a qualified NLP Practitioner.

His initial training in Hypnotherapy was with The Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Centre in Bristol with David Newton, one of the most experienced practitioners in the UK. and a leader in promoting Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. This is a traditional, script based form of Hypnotherapy.

Simon is now a Master Practitioner of Hypnosis having completed further training with Colin McKay of Mind Training Systems who teaches a script free, conversational style of hypnotherapy that takes into account the individuality of each client.

Simon uses both approaches to form a solution based therapy system. He does not encourage clients to dwell on past issues that may have caused their problems. Neither does he presume to offer his own solutions. Instead, he encourages his clients to find their own answers to their problems using resources they may not have realised they have.

Simon believes that Hypnotherapy and NLP are a powerful combination of techniques that work well together to create the changes clients are looking for.

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Simon also holds a Teacher's Diploma Certificate in Meditation. Whilst there are many forms of meditation, Simon specialises in Guided Meditations. Meditation is a state of consciousness in which a person goes deep within themselves, focusing the mind and eliminating outside influences to produce a state of deep peace and relaxation.

Some of the benefits of meditation are that it can; reduce levels of stress and anxiety, help to reduce physical pain, boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, encourage deep relaxation and a feeling of peace, focus the mind, enhance creativity and open the mind to new ideas, balance emotions, create a deeper understanding and awareness of other people and decrease depression.

*Disclaimer
We are all different. Results suggested by any of our testimonials on this page or others on this website or on links to other websites are individual and cannot be guaranteed. Health recovery, fertility and weight loss vary from guest to guest. If you have any questions about potential results of a stay at The Raw Retreat or realistic individual weight loss, please contact us.